A new AP-NORC poll reveals that most Americans believe President Donald Trump is prioritizing his personal wealth over the interests of the country. About 6 in 10 U.S. adults think Trump is either illegally profiting or engaging in unethical behavior through his presidency, while only 2 in 10 believe he is doing nothing wrong. The survey highlights widespread concern over Trump's financial interests, particularly his involvement in new crypto businesses and foreign real estate deals.
Trump has faced criticism for lifting a self-imposed ban on his family's private-sector deals overseas and starting several new crypto ventures. His financial disclosure in June reported over $1 billion from new crypto businesses after he loosened regulations on the industry. One of his largest crypto ventures received a $500 million investment from a United Arab Emirates business tied to the royal family, raising further ethical questions.
The poll also found that just over half of Americans believe Trump has prioritized his personal financial interests “a lot” since returning to the White House, while only about one-quarter say he puts the same emphasis on the country as a whole. Republicans and independents are less convinced than Democrats that Trump is doing something wrong, with only about 3 in 10 independents and 1 in 10 Republicans saying he’s doing something illegal.
Despite the White House's repeated dismissals of these accusations, public opinion suggests a significant portion of Americans see red flags in Trump's financial dealings. Critics, including some who previously supported him, argue that he is not putting the country first.